I have a close friend, who I thought was a long time recovered addict, that has been caught lying on many occasions. Recently, he said he needed a B12 shot for his lack of energy. He says he went in to see his doctor and "just got one because I asked." Can anyone walk in off the street to see the doctor and say you need a B12 shot and just get it? No questions asked? I'm hoping that maybe he's beginning to see his problem and maybe didn't lie about this. I want to give the benefit of doubt but I still don't know if he's being honest.
When can anyone walk into a doctors office and ask for a B12 shot and simply get it right then?
Question posted by helpless and concerned on 6 March 2011
Last updated on 24 July 2019 by GracieMarie7
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7 Answers
GracieMarie7
24 July 2019
I have pernicious anemia among other things. I get a B12 shot every 3 weeks per my doctors instruction. He said that the body sloughs off what it doesn't need. It is not harmful to have it more than once a month. I go to a health food/nateuropathic store which offers B12 shots administered by an RN. No prescription is required. I cannot think that it would be harmful for your friend and in fact would probably be beneficial.
Callianne
9 March 2011
It's likely that your friend has seen this doctor in the past, and therefore the doctor would know his history fairly well, so yes, the doctor might have given him an injection if he thought your friend would benefit from it.
When I first asked my doctor about raising my energy levels, she gave me a B12 shot then and there, but she also sent me for a detailed blood test afterwards. Turns out my liver refuses to store B12, whereas the normal liver stores up to 6 months in reserves, she said. Surprisingly, I had not developed anemia.
Also, she was not concerned about my getting too much, as extra B12 is quite harmless and is just dumped out in the urine.
I found going in for regular shots was a problem for me, so I was told to buy it over the counter. But doing it that way, one must take massive daily doses (around 1000 mg or mcg or however it is sold), way more than is in an injection. Plus, injections are often only given bi-weekly or monthly. That's because the shot is more easily absorbed, and the body wastes a lot when taken in OTC form, so you need larger doses way more often (in my case, daily).
So yes, it may be that your friend is being truthful this time. But that depends on how well his doctor really knows him!
Inactive
8 March 2011
I think what Marvell said is spot on ! no way would any doctor just give a person off the street a injection of B12 without checking their blood first, I think the person who stated this is telling porkies !! have a good one Candypq
madhattersbash
7 March 2011
Hi:
My husband has Pernicious Anemia and needs to get B-12 shots; however, if your body doesn't need it, you will pee it right back out--so it would be a waste of money.
LaurieShay
8 March 2011
Yeppers, how true
Inactive
7 March 2011
You stated he went to see "his doctor", maybe he just gave you an off hand explanation of "just because I can". I'm sure if it was HIS doctor he wouldn't do it for that reason alone.
DzooBaby
7 March 2011
It depends on the Dr. DO's and naturopaths use B12 for energy more so than MDs. A B12 shot wont hurt anybody. If someone asked for it, it may be likely that they could find a Dr to give it. I wouldnt recommend that someone get one more than once a month however. Vitamins can become toxic in high amounts.
Marvell
7 March 2011
I don't think any doctor will just give a B12 injection if a patient says they need it. First they will do a blood test to see the levels. If a previous level has been done then the doctor may have said that the patient needs a few injections (these would be scheduled injections) ... NOT just if the patient says they need it.
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